It’s not crazy that first ‘Gila-Gila’ is now worth RM9,000
KUALA LUMPUR: The first edition of local comic book Gila-Gila, published on April 1, 1978, can fetch up to RM9,000 today.
Originally sold at RM1 each, it is one of 500 titles displayed at the Malaysia Cartoon and Comic House (MCCH) at Taman Tasik Perdana here.
MCCH curator Mohd Safwan Mohd Ariffin said the centre also showcased works from old copies of local humour magazines in the 1980s, such as Ujang, Geli Hati, and Batu Api, involving more than 50 cartoonists.
He said most of the rare collections were obtained from collectors, who were hardcore fans of the magazines.
“Publishing companies and cartoonists do not have these collections, considering that all publications were done manually.
“When MCCH was established in 2017, collectors were the biggest contributors to its success,” he said recently.
Safwan, who is also Pauh cartoonist, said MCCH also displayed the works of Datuk Mohammad Nor Mohammad Khalid, popularly known as Lat, Sulaiman Awang, Raja Hamzah and Osman Baru
Visitors to MCCH can view old cartoons produced during the Japanese Occupation that were published in newspapers and magazines, such as Malai Sinpo, The Malay Mail, Syonan Times and Semangat Asia.
“Cartoons were a propaganda medium during the Japanese Occupation, and this showed that they were not just for entertainment,” he said.
Apart from portraying the works of legendary cartoonists, MCCH also acts as a platform for working cartoonists to creatively disseminate messages on current issues.
MCCH exhibition manager Tazidi Yusof said it would display the latest works carrying current issues, every three to four months.
“For example, we are now having a ‘Kartunis vs Covid-19’ exhibition, which is ongoing until Aug 31, showcasing over 50 works by local cartoonists, as well as those from Indonesia and Singapore,” he said, adding that this would be followed by an exhibition related to independence.
Tazidi said MCCH charged an entry fee of RM5.
“There are foreign tourists who are also cartoonists. They spend hours looking at the works of local cartoonists,” said Tazidi, who was planning to organise cartoon and comic drawing classes for youth at MCCH.
He said MCCH was also a meeting place for more than 100 cartoonists to share ideas, ensuring that the industry remained sustainable.